Bournemouth Concert Brass accepted the invitation to lead the parade in the annual Harry Paye Day event, which is held in honour of a pirate from Poole. Hundreds of people dressed as pirates lined Poole Quay as part of a day of pirate-themed celebrations.
Poole Town Crier, David Squire, and Mayor of Poole, Cllr Phil Eades, and the Mayoress, his wife, Helen, officially launched the start of the Parade of the Pirates. BCB provided suitable themed marches such as Anchors Aweigh, Life on the Ocean Wave, the Great Escape and Death or Glory, as the parade travelled along the quay and down the Old High Street.
Follow the link below to see a short clip of the march: http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/video/2481501366001/?ref=vidshare
Most people have heard of Sir Francis Drake, English hero of the struggle against the Spanish Armada. To the Spanish he was an evil pirate who they called El Draqui. Drake was following in the wake of a man of Poole, Harry Paye, known to the Spanish as Arripaye.
Harry had a colourful life, He and his ship the Mary appear in the kings records as being licensed to carry pilgrims to Spain. The Spanish archives record him as stealing the gold cross from the church at Finisterre. He was notorious for having burnt the Spanish walled city of Gijon, home of his lover, the Countess Isabel. Harry's activities in Spain drove the Spanish to seek revenge. In 1405 a squadron of Spanish and French galleys were making their way along the south coast. When they reached Poole they heard that it was home town to the dreaded Arripaye who was away with the English fleet. The galleys were crammed with heavily armed fighting men who attacked the town. The people of Poole fought valiantly and the fighting was fierce with many killed on both sides, including Harry's brother. Eventually the Poole people were forced to flee to the heath leaving the raiders to burn the town.
Two years later, in 1407, Harry decided it was "paye back" time. His ship and 14 others swept the English Channel capturing French and Spanish cargo vessels. The archives record that 120 ships were captured loaded with valuable goods including vast quantities of good French wine. To help to recompense the people of Poole for their sufferings Harry brought the captured ships back to Poole. According to local tradition the town feasted and drank the captured wine for many days.
So raise your glass to Harry Paye, fighting man of Poole. Celebrate Paye Day on this day, Poole town's most famous party.